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divapitbull's review
4.0
This review will contain minor, vague spoilers.
The Black Prince part II provides a satisfactory conclusion to The Black Prince trilogy and doesn’t leave any loose ends – although one can certainly wonder what happens to the characters going forward. I gave the final installment 4 stars rather than the 5 which I gave the previous 3 installments – based solely on personal preference. TBP part II was certainly as well crafted, interesting and entertaining as the preceding volumes. There was still the same action, intrigue, drama, romance and subtle humor. It just…didn’t go the way I thought it would.
The Black Prince trilogy utilizes an ensemble cast of complex, developed characters. That may be stating the obvious, but I really didn’t realize this was to be the case 2 volumes in. I thought it was primarily Isla’s story, perhaps co-starring Tristan and supported by a cast of secondary characters. As a reader I made some assumptions, based on how I interpreted what I was reading – and I was wrong.
I started to suspect something was amiss in The Black Prince part I. I was surprised at how much “air time” Hart was getting. Not complaining – it was a page turning story – just surprised. TBP part II like part I picks up with Hart off to fight another battle on behalf of Tristan and ultimately the King; which gains him an earldom (which he wanted) and a crazy wife (which he didn’t) and also provides Rudolph with an opportunity to experience a transformation of his own.
Meanwhile back at the home front there’s a good amount of drama – due in no small part because Isla suffered the fat, stupid one to live – which led me to lose some respect for her. Then there’s the matter of Isla – the source of my disappointment. I wanted her to kick ass (and in all fairness, she kind of did – but not in the way I wanted her to). She has magic in her blood. Her ancestor was the powerful necromancer who tutored Tristan in the dark arts. Throughout the series there are references to her having the capacity for great power. In book 2 The White Queen Eir comments that Isla “has the eye” and that “That was, I assumed, the basis of your union with Lord Tristan. The same magic runs in your veins”. And then again in TBP part 2 that witch (literally and figuratively) Ariadne comments regarding Isla that “with proper training she could be far more powerful than all but Tristan”. But Isla…isn’t interested. Well color me flabbergasted.
Isla’s story goes off in a whole different direction than I anticipated (wanted). She is a multi-dimensional and very strong character (and perhaps exactly what is needed to balance Tristan) – and I still like her – I just lost my admiration for her – because I guess – at the end of the day – love is grand – but she could have had that and so much “more” but for Isla love is enough. I want the heroine who wants more.
The Black Prince part II provides a satisfactory conclusion to The Black Prince trilogy and doesn’t leave any loose ends – although one can certainly wonder what happens to the characters going forward. I gave the final installment 4 stars rather than the 5 which I gave the previous 3 installments – based solely on personal preference. TBP part II was certainly as well crafted, interesting and entertaining as the preceding volumes. There was still the same action, intrigue, drama, romance and subtle humor. It just…didn’t go the way I thought it would.
The Black Prince trilogy utilizes an ensemble cast of complex, developed characters. That may be stating the obvious, but I really didn’t realize this was to be the case 2 volumes in. I thought it was primarily Isla’s story, perhaps co-starring Tristan and supported by a cast of secondary characters. As a reader I made some assumptions, based on how I interpreted what I was reading – and I was wrong.
I started to suspect something was amiss in The Black Prince part I. I was surprised at how much “air time” Hart was getting. Not complaining – it was a page turning story – just surprised. TBP part II like part I picks up with Hart off to fight another battle on behalf of Tristan and ultimately the King; which gains him an earldom (which he wanted) and a crazy wife (which he didn’t) and also provides Rudolph with an opportunity to experience a transformation of his own.
Meanwhile back at the home front there’s a good amount of drama – due in no small part because Isla suffered the fat, stupid one to live – which led me to lose some respect for her. Then there’s the matter of Isla – the source of my disappointment. I wanted her to kick ass (and in all fairness, she kind of did – but not in the way I wanted her to). She has magic in her blood. Her ancestor was the powerful necromancer who tutored Tristan in the dark arts. Throughout the series there are references to her having the capacity for great power. In book 2 The White Queen Eir comments that Isla “has the eye” and that “That was, I assumed, the basis of your union with Lord Tristan. The same magic runs in your veins”. And then again in TBP part 2 that witch (literally and figuratively) Ariadne comments regarding Isla that “with proper training she could be far more powerful than all but Tristan”. But Isla…isn’t interested. Well color me flabbergasted.
Isla’s story goes off in a whole different direction than I anticipated (wanted). She is a multi-dimensional and very strong character (and perhaps exactly what is needed to balance Tristan) – and I still like her – I just lost my admiration for her – because I guess – at the end of the day – love is grand – but she could have had that and so much “more” but for Isla love is enough. I want the heroine who wants more.
lavenderxohuang's review
adventurous
medium-paced
2.0
I have to say that was a very dissatisfying ending to what I thought to be a series with great potential. The end of all these characters were so anticlimactic. What was the point of giving us so much details when it was all going to be "resolved" so randomly?! The story goes on about the conflict with Maeve forever but leaves leaves that as a loose thread with no proper conclusion. It was as if the author just got tired of writing this story. And tbh, it was tiring and a bit dreary reading it too. It just wasn't very exciting any more and was super drawn out. The story also went so many ways, focusing on different characters, so I felt like I didn't get to enjoy the relationship between Tristan and Isla properly, which was what had me hooked at the beginning of the series. Also how come Tristan who is supposedly all powerful and knowing seemed so useless in this book. He didn't really prevent any of the bad situations from happening
sagek's review
2.0
Well. That was pretty disappointing.
Hart became a lord and got married to someone pretty despicable, who also despises him. Lissa is now his mistess.
Rudolph and Greta are now together, Rowena is dead (which is what I wanted from the beginning but it was such an unsatisfactory end to the drama).
Isla now has 3 kids: Asher, Aveline, Ameile. She is still submisisve (she forgave Tristan for sleeping with Rowena), and didn't really regain her strength or wit from the first book.
Rowena constantly attempted to kill Asher, and turn others against Tristan (yes she used sex to persuade them). Yet she was allowed to live until she attacked Isla.
Meave came back and tried to take Asher, and then again to kill him. We have no answers regarding what happens to her.
Cariad helped Meave and is now dead (thankfully). She killed a lot of people.
Overall, not a very satisfying way to end the series. I feel like I wasted my time.
Hart became a lord and got married to someone pretty despicable, who also despises him. Lissa is now his mistess.
Rudolph and Greta are now together, Rowena is dead (which is what I wanted from the beginning but it was such an unsatisfactory end to the drama).
Isla now has 3 kids: Asher, Aveline, Ameile. She is still submisisve (she forgave Tristan for sleeping with Rowena), and didn't really regain her strength or wit from the first book.
Rowena constantly attempted to kill Asher, and turn others against Tristan (yes she used sex to persuade them). Yet she was allowed to live until she attacked Isla.
Meave came back and tried to take Asher, and then again to kill him. We have no answers regarding what happens to her.
Cariad helped Meave and is now dead (thankfully). She killed a lot of people.
Overall, not a very satisfying way to end the series. I feel like I wasted my time.
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